9 Charged In Large-Scale Cocaine Ring In Freehold: Prosecutor

FREEHOLD, NJ — Nine members of a drug ring that authorities say was responsible for moving a third of a kilogram of cocaine a week in the Freehold area were arrested Thursday following a nine-month investigation, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced Friday.

The investigation, named "Operation Snowball," was based primarily in the downtown Freehold Borough area, Gramiccioni said.

The investigation revealed that Hugo Hernandez supplied numerous lower level dealers, including his brother, Carlos Hernandez-Campos, and Lucino Roldan-Coria aka Rufino Roldan, Gramiccioni said. Also identified in the operation were lower-level dealers Antonio Romano-Jiminez, Miguel Garcia, and Roberto Tlapa De La Era, who delivered cocaine at the direction of Hugo Hernandez to locations in downtown Freehold, he said.

Four search warrants were executed in Freehold and one in New Brunswick on Thursday, and in addition to the arrests, more than 721 grams of cocaine and $14,943 were seized, the prosecutor said.

Arrested were:

Hugo Hernandez, 48, of Freehold. He is charged with one count of first-degree leader of a narcotics trafficking network; second-degree conspiracy to distribute cocaine; third-degree conspiracy to possess cocaine; first-degree distribution of cocaine; eight counts of second-degree distribution of cocaine; eight counts of second-degree possession of cocaine with intent to distribute; one count of third-degree distribution of cocaine; one count of third-degree possession of cocaine with intent to distribute; nine counts of third-degree possession of cocaine; and one count of first-degree distribution of cocaine.

Lucino Roldan-Coria, 58, of Freehold, aka Rufino Roldan. He is charged with one count each of second-degree conspiracy to distribute cocaine; third-degree conspiracy to possess cocaine; three counts of second-degree distribution of cocaine; three counts of second-degree possession of cocaine with intent to distribute; two counts of third-degree distribution of cocaine: two counts of third-degree possession of cocaine with intent to distribute; five counts of third-degree possession of cocaine; and one count of first-degree distribution of cocaine.

Carlos Hernandez-Campos, 35, of New Brunswick. He is charged with one count each of second-degree conspiracy to distribute cocaine; third-degree conspiracy to possess cocaine; two counts of second-degree distribution of cocaine; two counts of second-degree possession of cocaine with intent to distribute; two counts of third-degree possession of cocaine with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of school property; two counts of third-degree distribution of cocaine within 1,000 feet of school property; two counts of third-degree possession of cocaine; and one count of first-degree distribution of cocaine.

Antonio Romano-Jiminez, 29, of Freehold, aka Merito Romero-Jimenez. He is charged with one count each of second-degree conspiracy to distribute cocaine; third-degree conspiracy to possess cocaine; and first-degree distribution of cocaine.

Miguel Garcia-Tapia, 30, of Freehold. He is charged with one count each of second-degree conspiracy to distribute cocaine; third-degree conspiracy to possess cocaine; third-degree distribution of cocaine; third-degree possession of cocaine with intent to distribute; third-degree possession of cocaine; and first-degree distribution of cocaine.

Procopio Morales-Trinidad, 49, of Freehold. He is charged with one count each of second-degree conspiracy to distribute cocaine; and third-degree conspiracy to possess cocaine.

Gregorio Morales-Morales, 35, of Manalapan. He is charged with one count of third-degree conspiracy to possess cocaine.

John A. Depaola, 53, of Jackson. He is charged with one count of third-degree conspiracy to possess cocaine.

Roberto Tlapa De La Era, 35, of Freehold. He is charged with one count of third-degree conspiracy to possess cocaine.

The investigation was jointly led by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Narcotics Office and Criminal Enterprise Unit and the Drug Enforcement Administration Monmouth High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area working group.

The arrests were made with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force; the DEA Monmouth High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area working group; DEA Special Response Team; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations; U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office; Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office; Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office; and the Asbury Park, Neptune City, Neptune Township, Tinton Falls, Freehold Borough, Manalapan Township, Franklin Township, New Brunswick, Highlands, Middletown Township, Holmdel Township, Keansburg, and Hazlet Township police departments.

If convicted of the charge of being the leader of a narcotics trafficking network, Hugo Hernandez faces a life term in prison without parole for 25 years.

The first-degree charges carry up to 20 years in prison; second-degree carry five to 10 years and third-degree charges carry a sentence of three to five years on each count, the prosecutor's office said.

The case is assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutors Paul Alexander and Amanda Dalton.

Note: This article was updated Dec. 18, 2017 with updated information from the prosecutor's office that included a correction to the name of defendant Procopio Morales-Trinidad, 49, of Freehold.

Photos provided by the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office